Apricot To-Go

For the past 3 weeks we have been discussing different snack foods you can bring with you to work or school. The foods we are focusing on are the ones that are filled with optimal nutrition and bring a sense of health to your day. This week we will focus on apricots and how they can improve your quality of life. I also want to share why it is vital we eat fresh apricots and not the dried ones we see at many grocery stores.

If you ate 2 medium-sized apricots you would be gaining benefits of fiber, vitamin A, beta carotene, potassium, and beta-cryptoxanthin. Beta-cryptoxanthin is a strong antioxidant that seems to reduce the risk of lung and colon cancer. If you were to eat dried apricots then you would lose the strong antioxidants since it is concentrated. The concentration process of apricots increases the amount of calories and raises the sugar level.

In the Himalayas there is a group of people that have focused on eating apricots as a dietary staple. This group lives to an old age and stays healthy throughout those years.

Check out your local health food store for organic apricots that are not sprayed with pesticide and herbicide.